German border shut to stem migrant flow

Monday, September 14, 2015 - 01:31

Migrants are left stranded as Germany re-imposes temporary controls on its border with Austria. Paul Chapman reports.

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Hundreds of mostly-Syrian migrants pack Vienna's Westbanhof railway station, stranded in Austria by German's decision to close its border.
German authorities re-imposed border controls to stem the flood of migrants into the country.
The numbers of migrants heading to Germany's soared since Chancellor Angela Merkel effectively threw open the gates a week earlier.
Germany's Interior Minister says it's now time to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming in.
(SOUNDBITE)(German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER THOMAS DE MAIZIERE SAYING:
"This step has become necessary. The great willingness to help that Germany has shown in recent weeks by full-time employees and especially by the many thousands of volunteers must not be overstrained. The measures are also a signal to Europe. Germany is taking on its humanitarian responsibility but the burden caused by the huge numbers of refugees must be distributed with solidarity in Europe."
On Sunday the main railway station in Munich, normally packed with thousands of migrants, was evacuated because of a bomb scare.
The alarm was raised when police were alerted by a sniffer dog trained to spot explosives.
The dog's attention was drawn to a suspect item in the main hall.

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